Waugh put to the test (2 April 1999)
It was rather like pouring salt on a wound to make a dejected Australian side wait for half-an-hour on the plane carrying them here from Barbados, while the West Indies team did yet another lap of honour in their motorcade outside the airport
02-Apr-1999
2 April 1999
Waugh put to the test
Peter Deeley in Antigua
It was rather like pouring salt on a wound to make a dejected
Australian side wait for half-an-hour on the plane carrying them here
from Barbados, while the West Indies team did yet another lap of
honour in their motorcade outside the airport.
Psychology has its part to play in modern Test cricket and it does
the Australian psyche no good to be so publicly reminded that they
are very much second best - as well as 2-1 down - in the series.
Brian Lara was noticeable by his absence. He returned home to
Trinidad with the blessing of his management, who explained that his
mother was not well. He is expected to rejoin the side in time for
practice today, before the final Test begins tomorrow.
With shoulder trouble again ruling out Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the
West Indies have called up young Jamaican left-hander Wavell Hinds,
but they are unlikely to change a winning side.
Australia's selectors, by comparison, have to confront a mountain of
problems, and only three games into his captaincy Steve Waugh faces
perhaps the biggest challenge of his career - the the need to
consider axing friends who have come up with him through the ranks.
Shane Warne, as vice-captain, is a fellow selector. After a series in
which he has taken two wickets for 268 runs, will he be man enough to
vote for his own omission?
Ian Healy, now approaching 35 with 114 Tests behind him, has a
batting average of five in this series. He is far short of his own
high wicketkeeping standards and dropped Lara in the second innings
in Barbados when West Indies were still seven runs short of victory.
Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist joined the Australians here last night,
but Healy is not yet willing to step down.
Then there is opener Matthew Elliott (series average 11), Justin
Langer (18) - and even Mark Waugh (21). The signs are that the
captain will stand by his men. But with Jason Gillespie struggling
with back strain, Adam Dale is likely to come in for his second Test.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)